The Los Angeles Rams didn’t waste any time addressing their secondary during the 2022 NFL draft. After taking Decobie Durant — and trading for Troy Hill — in the fourth round of the draft, the Rams took Derion Kendrick out of Georgia with the 212th overall pick in the sixth round.
Kendrick joins a cornerback group that includes Jalen Ramsey, Hill, Durant, Robert Rochell, and David Long Jr. The Georgia product was part of a special Georgia defense in 2021 that won the national title. So what does Kendrick’s arrival to Los Angeles mean for the Rams and their defense?
Following the trade for Hill, the cornerback depth chart is beginning to flesh out for the Rams. Ramsey and Hill are slotted in the top two spots while Rochell, Long, Durant, and Kendrick will compete for the remaining spots. Even though he was taken in the sixth round, Kendrick displayed excellent ball skills with four interceptions and three deflections in 2021.
At the next level, Kendrick will want to improve his run defense and his technique, especially in man coverage. There’s no doubt that the Rams have gotten severely deeper at the cornerback position on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL draft, with Kendrick being the newest addition.
